Camalu

Camalu is a beach town of 8,600 people (2010) in Baja California, Mexico. Surfing, dune buggy riding, sailing, fishing, clamming and crabbing are activities.

Climate
Though its considerably south of San Diego, water temperatures range from lows nearing 10°C (50°F) to highs approaching 21°C (70°F). 3mm/2mm wetsuits are recommended for surfing on all but the warmest of days.

Get in
Camalú is one of several 'beach towns' between Colonet and El Rosario, about 2 hours south of Ensenada.

Get around
At the stop light, a dirt road takes you 3 km (2 mi) west to the beach and a unique restaurant and hotel, Cueva de Pirata (Pirate's Cove), on a bluff above the ocean. The hotel has a glass wall and patio that overlooks the beach and mountains, and serves wonderful seafood entrees at a reasonable price.

Do
To the south of here along the beaches are a few local fishermen and a few camping tourists with some expectations of surfing. Most of the better surfing is just to north at Shipwreck (Punta San Jacinto), and Quatro Casas.

North of town is the turnoff to San Pedro Martir National Park, with the highest point in Baja. There is an observatory open to visitors, great hiking, a condor preserve, pine covered hills and meadows--not your usual Baja scenery.

Camalu offers great fishing for large white sea bass, ling cod and red cod. Commercial fisherman sell to the local restaurants as well as trucks that deliver to the United States daily. You can hire a local fisherman to take you out in a panga, and then have the fish cooked at the Cueva de Pirata restaurant.

There is a coastal dirt road that many dune buggies and motorcycle enthusiasts enjoy traveling for the beautiful views and plush ride.

Due to the serenity, beauty, wonderful people, and close proximity to Highway 1, developers are starting to provide power and water to the beaches for an influx of residents. Several American communities have sprung up, including Playa de Arena, Brisas del Mar, and El Encanto Al Mar.

Buy
Some of the few things for sale are produce from local farmers and beach front lots.

Eat

 * The Pirate's Cove hotel/restaurant has great food and sweeping vista of the beaches. The fish taco plater is a great deal for US$7.95.
 * Las Brisas restaurant in town has very good food at very reasonable prices. Octavio is the owner and extremely helpful to all visitors with questions about the area.

Drink
The Pirate's Cove has an extensive bar of many very good tequilas and capable of mixing up most cocktails. You can have top shelf drinks at cheaper than American well drink prices. They also have cold Mexican beers for your enjoyment.

Sleep

 * Pirate's Cove Hotel has rooms with queen beds for $30 per night, and can add an additional single bed at your request. Rooms at the end of the hotel are ideal for fishermen looking for a place to sleep. Each has two sets of bunkbeds and two showers in the bathroom. They are in the process of adding a second storey with nice size rooms with balconies, a pool is being built with an ocean view as well.
 * Villa Margarita. 22 rooms at budget prices, $25 double.

Other hotels in town include Hotel California.

Go next

 * Sierra de San Pedro Martir National Park
 * Ensenada